Family:Thomas Norton and Margaret Cranmer (1)

3) Thomas Norton, a.k.a. "Rackmaster-General of England" for his tortuous inquisitions of Catholics; married first Margaret Cranmer, daughter of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, with whom he had no children; married second Alice Cranmer, daughter of Thomas' brother Edmund Cranmer, Archdeacon of Canterbury, and Alice Sands.

       Thomas was a famed Elizabethan-era poet and lawyer. He debated anti-Roman Catholic measures in the English Parliament and examined Roman Catholics under torture. He translated John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion (1561), among other important works. He is most famous for his co-authorship with Thomas Sackville (cousin to Queen Elizabeth) of Gorboduc, the first English-language drama to be composed entirely in blank verse.
       Thomas got his M.A. at Cambridge on 10 June 1570. It was said that he had a brother Lucas who was admitted to the Inner Temple in 1583. As a boy Thomas entered the service of the Protector Somerset and eagerly adopted his amanuensis' views on religious reform. He entered the Inner Temple in 1555 and soon after married Margery, third daughter of Thomas Cranmer. His wife's stepfather was Edward Whitchurch, the Calvinistic printer and Thomas lived under his roof for a time. He was called to the bar and his practice grew rapidly. On Lady Day 1562, he became standing counsel to the Stationers Company, and on 18 June 1581 Solicitor to the Merchant Taylors Company.
       Norton's activity and legal ability soon recommended him to the Queen's ministers. In January 1581 Thomas became official censor of the Queen's Catholic subjects. He complained to Walsingham on 27 March 1582 about being known as the "Rackmaster General". Amongst those Thomas tortured were Alexander Briant, Thomas Myagh (an Irishman who had already been "loosened up" by Skevington), Edmund Campion, and Francis Throgmorton.
       But Thomas’ concern over the church's lack of zeal lead to him being imprisoned in the Tower where he continued to press Walsingham to be harsher with the Catholics. Although freed, his health had suffered and he died at his house at Sharpenhoe on 10 March 1584. He was buried at Streatley Church and the will he had written on his death bed was proved 15 April 1584. His executor was Thomas Cranmer, his wife's brother.
       Thomas Norton's second wife, Alice Cranmer, was always a bigoted Protestant and fell victim to religious mania. By 1582 she was hopelessly insane. At the time of her husband's death she was living at Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, under the care of her eldest daughter Ann, the wife of Sir George Coppin. She never recovered her reason and was still at Cheshunt early in 1602. She was afterwards removed to Bethlehem Hospital. 

Children:

Robert, Anne; married Sir George Coppin. Elizabeth; married Myles Raynesford. Henry; married Sarah Lawson. William.

http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~legends/norton.html